Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, is seeking to appeal against both his conviction and sentence, the Court of Appeal has confirmed.
Digwa was handed a minimum term of 21 years in June after fatally stabbing Mr Nowak in Southampton on December 3 last year. The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal as “unduly lenient” by Solicitor General Ellie Reeves last month.
On Friday, the Court of Appeal confirmed that Digwa has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence. No date has been set for the hearing of either the appeal or the bid to increase the sentence, and no details about the grounds of Digwa’s challenge have been provided.
Background of the Case
After stabbing Mr Nowak, Digwa lied to police, claiming he was the victim of a racist attack. The case sparked protests after body-worn video footage was released showing officers failing to provide first aid to Mr Nowak and instead handcuffing him as he lay dying, despite him telling officers he could not breathe.
When Digwa was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court, Mr Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, said the difference in treatment between the killer and his son was “unbearable”. The following day, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated there were “serious questions” to answer about the case.
Police Conduct Investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Wednesday that it is investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct. This includes potential failures to recognise that Mr Nowak needed urgent medical attention, failure to act when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid.
One officer is also under investigation for potentially breaching conduct standards by dismissing Mr Nowak’s claim that he had been stabbed. The watchdog is examining whether race or religion played a role in the officers’ decision-making.
